"The Morrison contract needs your signature," she said from my office doorway, her voice calm and steady despite the flutter of her heartbeat.
"Leave it," I growled. Her scent flooded my senses, honey sweetness now tinged with hurt. Because of me. Because I was hiding behind my desk, trapped in a cage of my own making, instead of claiming what was mine.
She placed the contract down on my desk and retreated. I tracked every step, zeroing in on the catch in her breath and the tremor in her hands. Why was I such a coward? Why was I letting family duty and fear dictate my life?
Hours passed in a haze of paperwork and longing. The office emptied for lunch, leaving me alone with my thoughts and Katie's presence. Through the door, I heard her at her desk. There was some shuffling, and then the ringing of a phone call. My enhanced hearing picked up every word, even though I should have given her privacy.
"Gladys? It's Katie Clark. I need to discuss my position at Alpha Fang."
My blood ran cold. Everything seemed to stand still in that moment.
"I know you placed me here for a reason." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "But I can't do it anymore. I think I need to resign."
No.
This couldn't be happening. The wolf roared. Primal rage turned my vision red, desperation making my blood pound. I was going to lose her forever. Every instinct screamed at me to get up and stop her before it was too late.
I jumped to my feet, my chair crashing to the floor behind me. In an instant, I was at the door, almost ripping it off its hinges. My hand slammed against the door frame hard enough to make the walls shake.
Katie looked up at me, her eyes wide in shock and shimmering with unshed tears.
"End the call, Katie," I commanded.
She stood slowly, clinging her phone to her chest like it was a piece of armor. "Reeve--"
"Don't leave me," I pleaded.
"Why should I stay?" Her voice cracked and a tear slipped down her cheek. "I can't take it any more. Every time I think I've gotten through to you, you keep pushing me away. I can't keep doing this."
"Because you're my mate." Finally saying it aloud shattered something in my chest. "Because I knew the moment I met you. Because I've been a stupid fool for fighting it ever since. Because I'm terrified of wanting you as much as I do."
She set her phone down on her desk. "I don't understand. Why is being with me so terrifying for you?"
I crossed the space between us in three strides. Cupping her face in my hands, my thumbs brushed away her tears. "You're human, Katie. Too fragile and defenseless for my world, for my family. They will disown me and try to destroy you. Celeste was right. I wasn't enough for her because I wasn't willing to give myself completely. But with you, I'm ready to risk everything because I can't lose you."
Her hand came up to rest just above my heart. The heat of her touch was like a brand searing my skin through the fabric.
"You don't have to. Stop fighting your heart, Reeve. Stop letting your family control your life."
Something inside me snapped. All of my careful control, all of my fears and doubts, shattered in an instant.
I kissed her like a man possessed. She melted into me, a soft mewl of delight escaping her as her fingers tangled in my hair. Placing my hands around her waist, I pulled her to me. Her body pressed against mine, her heat igniting a fire that threatened to consume us both. I gave her lip a light nip before soothing the love-bite with my lips and tongue.
Mine, my wolf howled. Forever.
The thick and heady scent of her arousal filled the air, wrapping its heady grip around my head. I was drunk on her.
My control snapped. In a single motion, I tightened my grip and lifted her onto her desk. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around my waist, like we had already done this hundreds of times. The heat of her core was molten as she started to grind up and down on my throbbing bulge, taunting me and driving me wild.
My mate was a fucking tease.
A growl rumbled deep in my chest which made her giggle in delight. The tinkling sound of joy sent a jolt of pleasure straight to my cock. Wrapping my arms around my precious cargo, I lifted her effortlessly and carried her back to my office. The door slammed behind us, the lock clicking into place.
I was going to take my time savoring every inch of my mate.
Striding across the room with a frantic urgency, I held onto her with one arm and swept my desk clean. Pens and papers clattered to the floor. My computer monitor landed with a crash.
"Reeve!" Katie gasped.